The Body Departed
The Body Departed
A Ghost Story
Two years ago, a man broke into James Blakely's apartment and shot him in his sleep. Twelve times, killing him instantly. Dead and confused, James discovers he has a choice: he can move on into the afterlife, or he can stay behind. Unfortunately, since James has done some very bad things, moving on into the afterlife can only mean one thing: the fires of Hell. Or so he thinks. Forgoing eternal damnation, James instead chooses to haunt his old apartment building.
Now James's days are mostly spent visiting his daughter and ex-wife, welcoming new neighbors, and talking to those who can see the dead. It's a simple, peaceful life, but with each passing day, James discovers something more and more alarming: memories of his former life--and even his own identity--begin slipping away. Faced with the prospect that he is rapidly deteriorating into a state of nothingness, James sets out to save his eternal soul. With the help of his daughter and a world-class medium, his journey to peace and forgiveness will not be an easy one, especially for a ghost who still wishes to be a father--and who fears he is destined for a fiery Hell as punishment for sins he cannot remember. Now, as James begins to uncover the devastating secret that connects his soul to earth, he will discover that even in death life has a few surprises.
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REVIEWS
"I totally loved The Body Departed. As someone who communicates with those who are either earthbound or have crossed over--your descriptions and interpretations of the dialogue and circumstances could not have been written more accurately. My favorite scene is the one of Jesus stepping down from the cross and then the passionate and compassionate way it was treated as he went back to the cross. I will relive that for a long time to come. You're a wonderfully descriptive writer who paints a very creative, visionary canvass based in a paranormal pallet that only a few experience and many can enjoy. Thank you for your talent."
--Julie Belmont, author of THE PATH TO PERSONAL SUCCESS AND FREEDOM
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"Following the acclaimed novel, Moon Dance (J.R. Rain's first novel about a lady vampire detective in Orange County), the supernatural The Body Departed continues J.R. Rain's winning streak of novels starring paranormal protagonists on serious quests. In both novels, his protagonists need to learn the nuances of their new forms and conquer the conflicts that arise within Self as well as in the interactive human world.
In The Body Departed, a ghost has imperative unfinished business to deal with before he crosses over to his final destination, though he has serious doubts that he's going to the place where angels sing, due to something very bad that he did when he walked the earth as a mortal man. In addition to solving his own murder, he wonders who killed someone else that he knew. He's desperate to find a path to redemption, before it's too late and he's convinced that solving these two murders is what he must do. It seems like the clock is ticking as his personal quest gets more and more urgent and involves more people--his detective work turns up clues in both the spiritual world and the earthbound world that motivate him to learn more in order to solve horrific crimes. In the process, he discovers goodness in both himself and in the people who wronged him when he was alive.
Aided by a very sexy world-famous medium, the ghost sets out to solve the heart-breaking mysteries that relentlessly connect him to earth. Obstacles to the resolutions include lapses of memory, learning the ropes of walking through walls, the etiquette of speaking to other spirits, and his own feelings of self-doubt, regret, and many deep spiritual questions that are common to most human beings. The story is poignant, heartbreaking, shocking, occasionally funny, and altogether a tapestry woven of threads that connect mortals to each other, and connect spirits to mortals.
Throughout the entire novel, the ghost is both a sympathetic and empathetic character, even when the reader discovers his terrible secret. His poignant humanity and his amazing redemption, combined with a page-turning mystery plot and sparkling dialogue, make this book a stellar, satisfying read, one that will raise gooseflesh on your body, but in a good way. The stunning, otherworldly climax of the story is unforgettable and definitively, the crown jewel of this novel. Don't miss The Body Departed. Five stars. Got ghost?"
--Eve Paludan, author of LETTERS TO DAVID
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"A completely unique spiritual journey forced upon a restless spirit--a ghost--The Body Departed details the travails of getting to the other side for a self-loathing man named James. J.R. Rain does a fantastic job of keeping the reader on edge, eagerly awaiting the details on how James will survive the purgatory he’s thrust into. Mr. Rain not only brings the reader to a satisfying resolution, but also leaves us with many things to ponder...about the meaning of life and a glimpse of what could be waiting for us all once we leave this earthly realm and continue our eternal journey."
--J. Stefan Jackson, author of THE GOLDEN TALISMAN
